Saudi Arabia and Uruguay played to a 1-1 draw in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup held Monday in Miami Gardens, Florida. The match saw both teams score in the first and second halves, with Saudi Arabia taking an early lead before Uruguay equalized late in the game.

Abdulelah Al-Amri put Saudi Arabia ahead in the 41st minute after capitalizing on a rebound. Earlier in the half, Al-Amri had a shot blocked by Uruguay’s goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, but he was able to quickly follow up and score with a tap-in. His celebration included kneeling on the pitch and bowing his head as Saudi supporters, though outnumbered by Uruguay fans, made their presence felt vocally in the stadium.

Uruguay maintained strong control particularly in the second half and generated numerous scoring chances but were unable to convert until the 80th minute. Maxi Araújo fired a rebound past Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais to level the score. This marked the fourth international goal for Araújo, who had battled throughout the match to break down Saudi’s defense.

Throughout the game, Uruguay pressed consistently, recording 28 attempts on goal compared to Saudi Arabia’s seven. Despite this, Saudi Arabia’s defense held firm for much of the match, helped by several key saves from Al-Owais. Among his notable stops were a point-blank header by Federico Viñas in the first half, a save on Manuel Ugarte in the 61st minute, and a late intervention on Federico Valverde during stoppage time.

The result echoes Saudi Arabia’s previous World Cup performances, including their famous 2-1 upset over eventual champion Argentina in the 2022 tournament, which generated considerable excitement among their fans. While Monday’s match lacked the drama of that earlier victory, Saudi Arabia demonstrated resilience against a traditionally strong Uruguay squad that has won the World Cup twice.

The draw reflects both teams’ competitive efforts, with Uruguay displaying sustained pressure and Saudi Arabia making the most of their limited opportunities while relying on solid goalkeeping. The match sets the tone for both sides as they continue their campaigns in the tournament.